Pistol holster



PISTOL HOLSTER Filed July 2, 1950 INVENTOR. A9100? A)? H,

ATTORNEK Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE fsl'no'n ARTE, or OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR ToIsIDoR ARTI-I & SON, or OAK- LAND, CALIFORNIA, A GOIARTNEB-SHIP COMPOSED or ISIDOR ARTE AND RAYMOND ARTE PISTOL HOLS'IER Application filed- July 2, 1930. Serial No. 465,326.

This invention relates to improvements in pistol holsters of the type particularly adapted for use by police officers and members of military forces.

5 An object of the invention is to provide a holster which is arranged to be rainproof and to securely retain, protect and substantially conceal the gun yet permit of a quick, unobstructed and simultaneous gripping of the handle and trigger guard or trigger, and a lateral withdrawal of the gun in a particularly easy and expeditious manner without likelihood of fumbling or crowding or necessitating the use of the other hand for holding or manipulating the holster in any manner or displacing the holster from its normal carrying position.

Another object is to provide a holster of the character described in which a highly desirable side opening extending substantially the full length thereof and facilitating a quick and easy insertion and withdrawal of the gun is made possible by a novel construction and arrangement free from straps or parts which might interfere with a simultaneous and easy gripping of the handle and trigger mechanism, and includes an ingeniously located snap fastener which although serving to partially close the side opening to hold the gun in place, readily springs apart incident to lateral pressure thereon upon withdrawal of the gun.

Still another object is to provide a holster of the character described in which the closed upper end thereof is constructed to prevent the trigger or other parts of the gun from catching on or damaging the holster and to facilitate a lateral withdrawal of the gun.

It is another object to provide a holster of the character described in which a spring gripping and holding means and a snap fastener cooperate in a particularly QillCleIlt manner to securely hold the gun against accidental displacement yet permit of a quick and easy withdrawal as well as an easy insertion of the gun into the holster. The snap fastener is so positioned and arranged as to relieve the spring and eliminate the necessity of employing a spring of a stiffness that would render difiicult the insertion of the Furthermore the fastener in closing the portion of the side opening of the holster below and adjacent to the trigger guard, provides a fulcrum portion in the holster which aids in the initial withdrawal movement of the gun until the pressure of the gun thereon causes the snap fastener to be sprung apart. The invention possesses other objects and features ofadvantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the holster of my invention as when in use.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the holster. Figure dis a side view looking towards the open side of the holster. v The holster of my invention in its present embodiment comprises a casing like body portion 1 preferably formed of a single piece of leather folded and arranged to provide a back wall 2, a front wall 3, a closed side 4:, a closed top 5, and a side opening 6 extending from said top to a point close to the closed lower end 7. These portions of the holster are so arranged that when the gun is held in place therein the handle extends laterally outward from the upper end of the holster and the trigger guard and trigger are likewise extended from between the front and back walls in position to be grasped simultaneously with the handle. The closed upper I end protects the gun from rain. The back wall has an extension flap 7 arranged to underlie the trigger guard and prevent the latter from rubbing against the body.

Fixed to and extending along the closed sidet is a suitable stiffening member 8 to prevent buckling of the leather as well as to reinforce and strengthen the holster. Lining the inner side of the closed top 5 is a 100 smooth surfaced strip or plate 9 of leather or other material for the purpose of guiding the hammer of the gun and preventing catching or crowding thereof, also wear on the top seam during the withdrawal of the gun. It is noted that said top 5 and strip 9 are upwardly inclined from the closed side 4 whereby to facilitate a quick withdrawal and insertion 'of the gun since the tendency is to lift the gun in withdrawing it and to force it downward and sidewise when inserting it.

Spring clamping and holding means is provided interiorly of the holster body to releasably hold the gun and as here shown comprises an arcuate steel spring 11 encased in a leather cover 12 stitched or otherwise fastened at its ends as at 13 to the front and rear walls of the holster. The spring may be shaped to fit around and hold the revolver type pistol as here shown or the automatic type, but a slight change in the shape being necessary to adapt it for the automatic type. In all instances, however, the open side of the spring is opposed to the open side of the holster and the spring clamps around the chamber portion of the gun but is spaced from and leaves uncovered the trigger guard and trigger. Furthermore it is seen that the. spring is shaped and arranged so that it will force and hold the gun close to the body whereby to avoid projecting parts from being accidentally engaged and to prevent bulging of the clothes when worn over the holster.

It will be noted that the stitching 15 closing the lower end 'of the body of the holster is extended a short distance up the'open side whereby theexternal lower part of the latter is closed and a pocket is formed for reception of the muzzle of the gun. If the remainder of said open side were allowed to remain fully open when the gun is in the holster it is seen that the spring 11 would have to be exceptionally strong or stiff to securely hold the gun in place and such a spring would make it 'ob'jectionably difficult to withdraw the gun as well as to insert it. Consequently I'emplo'y a releasable fastening means for securing the open side together just beneath the point where the trigger guard extends outward from the open side of the holster. As here shown this means comprises a snap fastener 17 having its respective parts fixed to the front and back portion of the holder near the open side of the latter. lVith this "provision for closing the open side of the iolster at a point just below the portion thereof from which the trigger guard extends, it is seen that the spring 11 and snap fastener cooperate to hold the gun in place and therefore the spring 11 need not be particularly stiff, or in other words of such strength as would render objectionably difficult the insertion and withdrawal of the gun relative thereto.

Furthermore the closing of said open side at said point provides a fulcrum point on which the gun bears on the initial movement thereof out of or relative to the spring clamp 11, that is, until the pressure and position of the gun during such with drawal movement are such as to cause the snap fastener to open, at which time the gun will have been drawn clear of the spring 11 and may be easily removed through the then freely open side of the holster.

The holster may be attached or secured to the wearer in any suitable manner. It may be worn under the coat or a shoulder strap, or strapped on the leg or otherwise fastened in place, but as here shown is carried by a belt 18, there being a loop 19 on the back of the holster to receive the belt. Regardless of the manner of securing the holster, it is to be noted that the act of inserting or withdrawing the gun does not require the use of both' hands nor the manipulation of the holster or cause displacement thereof out of its normal carrying position. After the gun is inserted, however, the operator snaps the fastener 17 closed whereby to partially close the open side of the holster to insure the retention 'of the gun therein.

It should be particularly noted that the holster of my invention is free from straps serted into the holster and removed therefrom through said open side, said body 'being arranged to house a gun therein with the, handle and trigger guard projecting laterally t'hroug'h said open'side andexposed for the gripping thereof with the hand exterior'lyof said l1ous ing,,and a'sn'ap fastener to releasably hold said open side closed at a point.

beneath the portion thereof through which "the trigger guard extends, and arranged to be foroed'a'part'by pressure of the gun upon withdrawal thereof from the holster.

2. In a holster, an elongated casing like 'body closed at its ends and open only along one side thereof whereby a gun may be -inserted lnto the holster and removed therefromthrough'said open side, sa'id'body being arranged to house a gun therein with the handle and trigger guard projecting laterally through said open side and-exposed for the gripping "thereof withthe'hand exteriorly of said housing, and a spring clasp interiorly of the body to releasably hold the gun in place thereon, and a snap fastener to releasably hold said open side closed at a point beneath the portion of said side from which the trigger guard extends and arranged to be forced apart by pressure of the gun upon 5 Withdrawal thereof from the holster.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Oakland, California, this 25 day of June, 1930.

ISIDOR ARTH. 

